Monday, July 19, 2010

Quick and Inexpensive Gift for Year Round Giving

Good Morning Followers,

This week, we'll give you ideas for Homemade Gifts. Mine comes from the home but is made up of buy-ahead store ingredients. It's simple as store bought pie crust. If you keep these makings on hand, you can have a gift to carry out your door to your holiday hostess or summertime picnic host home.

Fiesta Basket

When you're at the a dollar store, buy a few of those over sized bowls with lids and curly ribbon in primary colors. At the grocery store buy several boxes of FAT FREE saltine crackers (must be fat free for this recipe) and several jars of crushed red pepper, and a box of the four pack dry Hidden Valley Ranch mix.

Print the cracker recipe onto several index cards and keep with supplies.

I place the recipe, 4 sleeves of crackers, bottle of pepper flakes and 1 packet of ranch mix in bowl. I then roll off several yards of different colored curly ribbon and place loosely in bowl. Inside, the bowl just looks like a party! These crackers are delicious and spicy, but you can adjust tongue-warmth by placing fewer or more pepper flakes. At the end of today's post, I'll share a chicken and cream cheese spread that I like to serve with these crackers. Or we use the spread for party or summer sandwiches.

Fiesta Crackers

1 box fat free saltines (must be fat free)

1 cup Canola oil

1 package, dry, Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dress.

red pepper flakes (I use 2 teaspoons)

Use one box of crackers, and open all four sleeves place in large plastic bag or bowl with lid. Mix coating products and pour over crackers. Continue coating process by turning bag or bowl every few hours. After 24 hours, remove and store in quart bags. Crackers can be kept in freezer. Crackers will stay very crisp either way.

Good with mild soups, green salads, chicken or pasta salads. Enjoy!

Bonus Recipe: Cream Cheese Chicken Sandwich Spread

1 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

1 large can chicken

1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise

1 teaspoon chives

1teaspoon or more of soy sauce

Mix all ingredients. Makes nice party sandwiches or serve on crackers.

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